norman lebrecht
August 02, 2026
Message from the orchestra:
It is with great sadness that The Philadelphia Orchestra and Ensemble Arts has learned of the passing of former violinist Booker Rowe.
In 1968, Booker made history as the first Black musician to play in the ensemble. After performing with the Orchestra as a substitute musician, Eugene Ormandy hired him for a full-time position in 1970, and he became a full-time member of the ensemble in 1971, the Orchestra’s second Black musician. For almost 50 years, until his retirement in 2020, Booker was a well-loved member of the second violin section. He will be greatly missed; our sympathies go out to his family and friends.
Booker obtained a Bachelor of Music degree from Temple University and a Masters from Yale.